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adj. 1. Capable of doing many things competently. 2. Having varied uses or serving many functions: "The most versatile of vegetables is the tomato" (Craig Claiborne). 3. Variable or inconstant; changeable: a versatile temperament. 4. Biology Capable of moving freely in all directions, as the loosely attached anthers of certain flowers. [Latin versātilis, from versātus, past participle of versāre, to turn; see wer-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] versa·tile·ly adv. ver′sa·tili·ty (-tĭlĭ-tē), versa·tile·ness (-təl-nĭs, -tīl′-) n. |
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